SUVA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways has set an ambitious target to boost the country's agricultural exports to 1 billion Fijian dollars (about 443.48 million U.S. dollars) within five years, as outlined in the 2025-2026 national budget.

The plan represents a bold pivot towards transforming Fiji's agricultural landscape into a high-performing, export-driven sector.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna unveiled a comprehensive strategy this week that includes substantial investment in crop diversification, resilience-building, and market expansion.

Speaking to the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Tunabuna said the initiative aims to unlock the untapped potential of the agricultural sector by targeting high-value commodities and broadening Fiji's export base.

Key products identified for priority support include kava, taro, turmeric, ginger, cocoa, coffee, and livestock commodities that have demonstrated growing regional and international demand.

These sectors will benefit from targeted funding to increase output and improve processing, packaging, and compliance with export standards.

To achieve these goals, the ministry is focusing on unlocking idle land for productive use.

New policy frameworks are being developed to incentivize the leasing of underutilized land, particularly customary land, for commercial agriculture.

This effort is also expected to generate employment and drive rural development.

A comprehensive review of existing agricultural subsidy recipients is also underway to improve transparency and ensure that support reaches genuine, productive farmers.

This aligns with the ministry's goal of enhancing accountability and optimizing the impact of government spending in the sector, Tunabuna said. ■